Scripture: “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” – John 1:36
Observation: John the Baptist was sent by God to be His messenger preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. Mark 1:3 describes him as “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” When John saw Jesus approaching the Jordan river for baptism, he declared Jesus to be the “Lamb of God”.
Application: Passover is the Jewish celebration and remembrance of God’s salvation of His people from Egyptian bondage. During the first Passover, God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb in order for the angel of death to “pass over” their homes. There were very specific instructions as to the type of lamb that could be slain. It is no coincidence that there are several amazing parallels between Jesus and the Passover lamb.
1. First, the Passover lamb had to be “without spot or blemish”.
- “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year…” – Exodus 12:5
- Jesus was without sin; He was the perfect Son of God “without spot or blemish”.
- “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
2. Second, the blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites from God’s judgment.
- “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” – Exodus 12:13
- It is the blood of Christ that became the offering to God for the sins of the world.
- “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” – Ephesians 1:7
3. The Passover lamb was slain to provide redemption and salvation for the Israelites.
- “That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.” – Exodus 12:27
- Jesus was slain on the cross, and His death purchased salvation for everyone.
- “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
4. The Passover lamb provided freedom from Egyptian slavery.
- “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” – Deuteronomy 5:6
- Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin when we accept Him as our Saviour.
- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – Galatians 5:1
When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the “Lamb of God”, these were not just idle words. The words spoken had great significant to the Jewish people. As the Lamb of God, Jesus would become the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the entire world.
This Christmas, take time to thank God for His precious gift… His own beloved Son who became “…the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus, Your beloved Son to become the sacrifice for my sins. He bled and died on that cross for me, so I could be forgiven. Thank You for the gift of Your great love that provided salvation and eternal life for me. I pray that You will help me to never take that for granted, and I will have the boldness to share this “Christmas gift” with others. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Your only Son, no sin to hide,
But you have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God
Oh Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God,
I love the holy Lamb of God.
O wash me in His precious blood.
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
(from “Lamb of God” by Twila Paris)
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“Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” – Revelation 5:12